What he says was a split second gesture in a public place has blown up spectacularly on Iljo Keisse in Argentina. He’s had to explain himself to the police, pay a fine and issue a public apology to a woman he offended.
Iljo Keisse has apologised for the sexual gesture he made behind a young woman who has having her photo taken with his Deceuninck-QuickStep team.
The incident occurred outside a café in San Juan last Friday when Keisse and his team mates had stopped for coffee. They had been on a training ride ahead of the Vuelta a San Juan.
One of the waitresses in the café found out who the riders were and asked for her photo to be taken with them.
However, Keisse made a sexualised gesture behind her as she bent over to better fit in the photo. When the woman saw the photos she went to the police.
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Keisse has now said it was intended as a joke but was very sorry for what he had done. He added it was out of character and effectively a moment of madness.
Keisse was asked to give his version of accounts to the police. He was fined 3000 Pesos, or approximately €70, for public indecency; a misdemeanour, or non-criminal minor wrongdoing, under Argentine law.
However, the woman spoke to the local media and the photos of her with the riders, showing Keisse’s gesture, were also made available to the reporter.
And today the matter exploded in publicity as the story found its way into the international cycling and news media.
The woman told the press in Argentina she felt objectified, adding it was unacceptable.
She also accused Keisse of brushing against her, which she assumed was accidental at the time but was annoyed about when she saw the photos.
Keisse vehemently denies this aspect of her allegations. He has insisted very strongly that he did not touch or brush off her in any way.
"I would like to apologise, especially to this lady. I made a mistake, I realise that. It will not happen again,” he said today.
The 36-year-old extended his apology to the people of Argentina and anyone else offended by his actions, as well as his team and the Vuelta a San Juan organisers.
“It was a really stupid thing to do. I wish I could turn back time but I can't. I made a mistake.
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“I made a stupid movement with my hand. I did not hurt anybody,” he said, quickly adding he accepted he hurt the woman’s feelings.
However, he said he had acted very stupidly rather than criminally. And he insisted no part of his body touched the woman.
“I'm not a thief, I'm not a criminal. I'm human, I made a mistake. I came all the way to Argentina to do this Vuelta a San Juan.
"The lady put down a complaint with the police concerning me and my action. I also had to go to the police and give my version of the facts.
“They closed the case. This case was closed. I came back to the hotel. I went to the race.
“For me legally this was over. But then it began," he said, referring to the publicity that has blown up today.
Keisse said he and his team mates had all gone to the café for about three quarters of an hour last Friday. They paid the bill, left a tip and then got their bikes to leave.
It was at that point, he said, the woman asked politely if she could have her photo taken with a group of the riders.
“We took a picture like we take 1,500 every day. A normal picture. She asked for another picture,” he said.
“She bends a little bit forward to fit better in the picture and in a stupid moment, I make a stupid movement with my hand, which I really regret. You have all seen the result of that.
"I want to make 100 per cent clear that I did not touch her; not with my hands, not with my knees. I did not touch her.
“There was also in that moment no reaction from the lady. We were there in big company with people from the team.
“There were other people with us, around us. It was on the main street. There were a lot of people.
"I'm not a disrespectful person. I made a mistake, I'm human. I'm feeling treated a little bit like a criminal at the moment.
“I can understand it's not easy days for this lady; also not for me or my wife or my children or my family at home. It's not easy.
“I think things are a little bit out of control now and I would like to continue and focus on the race."
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